GOLDEN BOOT
Crusaders snatch victory in extra time
For the second match in succession, Super Rugby Aotearoa needed golden point extra time to find a victor.
The Crusaders, thanks to David Havili’s clutch drop goal, prevailed over the Hurricanes in Wellington but the win came at a cost and will do little to dampen the sense Scott Robertson’s men have quickly come back to the pack.
One night after Damian McKenzie nailed a penalty to snatch victory for the Chiefs in Dunedin in extra time, the bottom-placed Hurricanes pushed the Crusaders to the brink to reveal more cracks in the defending champions’ armour.
Two weeks ago, the Crusaders, unbeaten through their first four matches of the season, were as good as anointed champions. An inspired Highlanders performance 10 days ago seemingly cracked the code, and despite losing yesterday’s match, the Hurricanes proved the Crusaders are well within reach.
Robertson will be relieved to escape with a victory that pushes the Crusaders eight points clear of the second-placed Blues but there will be major concerns after All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue (knee) and prop Joe Moody (ankle) departed inside 25 minutes.
“Both will get scans but it looks serious,” Robertson said.
“In five minutes of a game, things changed pretty quickly,” Robertson said of the injuries. “But to win a championship, you need to go deep into your squad. Teams are doing it, and that includes us.”
Moody’s foot injury prematurely ended his 100th Crusaders game, a milestone he noted earlier had taken him longer to achieve than some other players due to injuries.
“He’s not a very emotive chap, he doesn’t give too much away, but he’s pretty gutted,” Robertson said.
“When you get injured in your 100th, it’s not easy. You want to stand there with your family and friends and enjoy it without having something hanging over your head like an injury.”
Havili’s match-winning drop goal came in the first play of extra time after Crusaders lock Mitchell Dunshea charged down a clearance kick from rookie replacement halfback Cam Roigard, a late bench call-up for Jonathan Taumateine.
Ardie Savea was inspirational for the Hurricanes. Playing in the seven jersey but from the back of the scrum on his side’s ball, Savea played 20 minutes of the second half on one leg after a heavy collision with Sevu Reece and yet he was still the best player on the park during that time. With ball in hand, with offloads and at the breakdown, where he stole several turnovers, Savea was superb.
Locked at 27-27 after three tries from both teams, Jordie Barrett pushed an audacious 63m penalty attempt wide with seven minutes left in regulation time. Richie Mo’unga had a chance to steal victory, too, but his 79th-minute dropped goal pushed right past the posts, so it was left to Havili to step up.
The Crusaders arrived in the capital with a point to prove after being embarrassed at home in that shock loss, their first of the season, to the Highlanders.
Racing out to a 14-3 lead following a brace from George Bridge — the second from a Codie Taylor pass that looked decidedly forward — the Crusaders seemed as though they would rectify last week’s wrong.
Losing Goodhue and Moody forced the Crusaders to their bench early. The Hurricanes, though, were always in the fight, despite their lineout misfiring and lacking urgency to the cleanout.
Dane Coles was the everywhere man for the Hurricanes, the All Blacks hooker frequently making turnovers, carries and cleanouts in a compelling battle with the in-form Taylor, who was equally effective over the ball.
Savea, Xavier Numia and James Blackwell were prominent in the Hurricanes pack that more than held their own against the vaunted Crusaders scrum. That parity allowed 19-year-old prospect Ruben Love, in his maiden start at No 10, to show glimpses of his potential, challenging the line on several occasions.
Barrett’s influence in assuming much of the playmaking and kicking duties helped take pressure off Love.
Peter Umaga-Jensen, restored to start at centre, was a handful, with his angled running lines causing problems, but midfield partner Ngani Laumape and former All Blacks wing Julian Savea crossed to bring the Hurricanes level.
Laumape had a brain explosion just before the break by elbowing Scott Barrett off the ball. But his yellow card did not prove costly, with his side scoring first after the break through Wes Goosen to steal the lead.
While rattled at times, the Crusaders responded with Mo’unga laying on a try for Reece with another marginal pass to draw level and then found the necessary composure to clinch victory in extra time. Crusaders 30 (George Bridge 2, Sevu Reece tries; Richie Mo’unga 3 cons, 2 pens, David Havili drop goal) Hurricanes 27 (Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Wes Goosen tries; Jordie Barrett 3 cons, 2 pens)
HT: 17-17. FT: 27-27.